Burial vault



April 25, 1944 M sKoLNlK BURIAL VAULT Filed June 15, 1941 INVENTOR BYMax Siro Luik Y" Me ATTORNEYS Patented rApr. 25, 1944 .assimiio BURALVAULT Max Skolnik, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Fibro Mold Specialties,Inc., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application June 13,1941, Serial No. v397,924

(Cl. l2-7) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a burial vault and method of making the same.

Heretofore burial vaults were made of steel and of concrete which may ormay not be reinforced. Concrete vaults, even though reinforced, areobjectionable because of their appearance, their porosity, and becauseof their relatively great weight. Steel vaults are undesirable becausethey are subject to electrolysis and soon become rusted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light weight,inexpensive burial vault which is strong and unaffected by water, evenfor long periods of time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an economicalmethod of making a waterproof burial vault which is light in weight andwhich has a highly decorative and pleasing appearance.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the invention, which is illustrated by theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vault embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the vault viewed from the line 2-2of Fig. 1, and having portions broken away to show the construction ofthe cover portion of the vault;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the lower 'righthand corner of thevault of Fig. 1, viewed from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and having portionsremoved to show the construction of the body por tion` of the vault;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a corner portion of the vaulttaken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing its construction; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing theconstruction of the cover, and showing the manner in which the covercooperates with the body portion. 4

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like parts aredesignated by like numerals of reference throughout the several views, avault embodying the present invention has a boxlike body portion 2 and acover portion 3, adapted to cooperate with said body portion and form aseal therewith.

The body portion comprises sides 4, ends 5, and a bottom 6.Load-supporting side panels 4a, and panels 5a, and the bottom 6 aresecured together in box-like form with the joints'between said panelsand between said panels and said bottom lled with a waterproofingmaterial, suchy as bituminous material. A layer l of a hardeneddecorative cement, such as magnesium oxychloride cement, preferablyreinforced by fibrous material such as asbestos bers, as hereinafterdescribed, covers the exterior of the panels and of the bottom. Thelayer is applied in plastic form and so it adheres to said panels. Thislayer 'l is ystippled to provide a rough, rocklike outer surface 8, anda coating 9 of waterproof material, .such as bituminous material orasphaltum, which is solid at ordinary temperatures, is applied over saidcement to improve its water resistance and, if desired, a finish coatnot shown) of paint containing metal powder may be applied over thecoating 9 to provide a pleasingv metallic appearance if desired. m,

The side panels 4a, end panels 5a, and bottom panel 6a preferablycontain a plurality of fibrous panel elements I0, fastened together toform a continuous solid Iibrous panel base which is substantiallycoextensive with the respective side, end, or bottom. The panel elementsare preferably of kWood or other brous material adapted to` receivemetal fasteners, and they preferably have suitable tongue and grooveside edges Il, although Wooden lath are satisfactory. The panel elementsin the side and end panels are preferably vertical and of substantiallythe same heightas the height of said side panels. When the panelelements are wooden lath it is preferred that both vertical andhorizontal lath be used and that the horizontal lath be spaced apart byabout 1A" or so. Means, such as corrugated metal'fasteners I2, areprovided for'holding the panel elements l0 together so as to form arigid supporting base for-the panels.

The'at, rigid, supporting bases of the panels and of the bottom,consisting of a plurality of panel elements I0 'solidly fastenedtogether, have a contacting coating` |3a of waterproofing material,`preferably asphalt, over their entire surfaces, .which coating partiallyimpregnates the wood. Av layer I3 of fiber-reinforced waterproofingmaterial, such as tarred paper, tarred felt, and the 'like is attachedto at least oneside, and preferably to bothsides, of the rigidsupporting bases to form the load-supporting panels or bottom.

Inthe preparation of the body portion of the vault, the panel elementsl0 may be cut to size andeach joint dipped into waterproofing material,such as hot molten asphaltum or other bitumen, at about 210 F. The edgesof the elements are then forced together and connected with suitablefastening means, such as the metal fasteners I2, to form a rigidsupporting base for each panel. The waterproofing material is thenapplied over the entire supporting base and, while the Waterproofingmaterial, such as bituminous material, is still in the molten stage, thesheet waterproofing material I3, such as tarred felt or tarred paper, isapplied to `each side of the panel base and rolled out, preferably withsteam rollers, so that the panel has a smooth surface impervious towater. The side, end and bottom panels of the vault are then assembledin a boxlike form. Just prior to assembly, however,

the lapping portions I5 are preferably coated with molten waterproofingmaterial, so that the box formed by the panels is water-impervious.

The hardened decorative coating 1 is .applied from a plastic cementcomposition, preferablyv magnesium cement, containing a substantialproportion of fibrous material, such as short fiber asbestos. In theapplication to the panels of the bodyr portion the cement is preferably`applied as two coats, the firstnthin coat `being brushed orrubbedvigorously in contact with the sheet waterproofing material or asphalt,and the next coat being superimposed thereon to form a relatively thicklayer. 1. It is sometimes desirable that the second coat contain lwovenreinforcing material, and burlap, soaked vvithrplastic magnesiumoxychloride cement, is entirely satis factory. During the setting o fthe cement the exothermic reaction causes softening of the asphalt andforms a firm bond between the panels and the layer 1. l

If the rough orstlppled surface is desired, it maybe produced by variousmethods known to those skilled in the art, and an'outer waterproofingcoatingl 9 may be convenientlyjapplied by spraying moltenY asphalt overthe stippled surface 8 of the hardenedy cement.

The cover has a peripheral frame `I6 formed of sides and endssecuredftogether and a shaped, central base portion I'I, carried by saidframe and extending completelyover the window of said frame. A layer I8'ofhardened' cement which contains reinforcing members, preferably metallath I9, suitably spaced therein, extends over said frame and saidshaped portion, and adheres thereto. One or more layers 20 ofcement'reinf forced by fibrous material,` preferably burlapthoroughlysoaked in" a slurry of magnesium oxychlorlde cement, issuperimposed overthe metal reinforcing cement layer- I8 and lintegrally adheres thereto.The burlap-cement coating serves to further increase the load-carryingcapacity of the cover'. A layer2I of hardened ce'-V ment, alsopreferably a magnesium oxychloride cement or other hydraulic cement, isappliedrover the reinforcing layersf20 and'is preferably stip-' pled toprovide a rough decorative surface. The decorative surface of the outerlayer 2I,is generally coated with a thin layerv of' solid .waterproofingmaterial, such as tar, Vasphalt or other bituminous material which issolid at normal temperatures. Such waterproofing material marl:-l edlyincreases the kwater-resistance of the outer cement coatings andimproves the life of the` vault.

The frame I6 may comprise a peripheral rigid frame member 23, preferablyofv Wood, with a covering or layer 2d. of suitable brous reinforcedcement, such as burlap soaked in magnesium oxychloridefcement. The frameIIi Apreferably has a groove 25 in its lower face 28 and around itsperiphery to receive the tapered edges 29 2,347,440 iii of the bodyportion 2. The central base portion l1 has an inner surface member orsheet of fibrous waterproofing material 25, such as tarred felt, tarpaper, or the like, and a stiffening member 21 of hardened plasticmaterial, which is preferably burlap o1' fibrous materials which havebeen soaked in a magnesium oxychloride cement slurry-and allowed toharden.

In the preparation of a lcover embodying the present invention, theframe I6 is formed by fastening the Wood frame members 23 together in asuitable manner, dipping them in a hot bituminous material, and wrappingthem with nesium oxychloride cement causes melting of the bituminousmaterial on the frame members Y23 and the formation of a relativelysolid bond between the burlap and the frame members.

The shaped central base portion of the cover is prepared by bending asuitable sheet of fibrous waterproof material, such as tarred felt,tarred paper andthe like, in the desired shape to form the inner surfaceof the shaped central portion of the cover, and superimposing thereon atleast one layer of'a hardenable cement, such as magnesium oxychloridecement, which preferably contains burlap or other brous material insubstantial amount. The hardenable sheet 21 may be prepared by soaking asheet of burlap in magnesium oxychloride cement. It is spread over thelayer 25 and allowed to harden in contact with the inner waterproofed`surface layer 25 while the latter is held inthe desired form. Uponhardening, it is found to bond to the tarred felt or v.tar paper 25 sothat both layers are held in the desired form for the central shapedportion of thecover 3. i

The'centralbase portion' I'I comprising the inner surface member 25 andthe stiffening sheet member 21 is then placed-,on the frame I6 andunited vtherewith by suitable means. The metal reinforcing members I9,such as metal laths, 4are then placed over the entire uppersurface ofthe frame and the formed base of the central portion. A plastic cementcomposition, preferably magnesium oxychloride lcement containing fibrousmaterial such as 1 asbestos fibers, is then applied thereover and4around the metal reinforcing members I9, and against the frame and thecentral base portion I'I. During the hardening. period, it firmly unitesthe frame with the formed -v central portion of the cover. A pluralityof layers of burlap saturated with magnesium oxychloride cement issuperimposedon the metal reinforcedlayer I8 to furtherstiffen the vault'cover.

The hardened decorative layer 2| may be applied in plastic form over theexternal surface of the layers 20 and stippled to provide a roughappearance.. A waterproong coating 30 of normally, solid bituminousmaterial or'the like is n. then sprayed over the external surface ofthel decorative coating 2I to `render it entirely impervious to water.kIf desired,vthe asphalt coating 30 may also be sprayed with metallicpaint to give the vault a metallic appearance.

The plastic decorative cement and the hardenable cements used in thepreparation of vaults of the present'invention are preferably of themagnesium oxychloride type, comprising essentially magnesium oxide,magnesium chloride andv water, and a substantial amountof nely 11u144verized silica, together with some iibrous material to decrease thebrittleness of the hardened material. This class of cements has beenfound to be particularly well adapted for adhering to meltableWaterproofing materials, such as bituminous materials including asphaltand tars which are normally solid at room temperatures.

The burial vaults prepared as above described are of relatively lowcost, are relatively light in weight, and have a very pleasingappearance. Even though the load supporting elements may be of wood, itwould seem that they are protected at all times from contact withmoisture, water, or other deteriorating elements.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it will be understood that numerous modications of theconstruction shown may be resorted to Without departing from the spiritof this invention as dened in the appended claims.

What I claim ist I 1. A Water-resistant burial vault having a boxlikebody portion and a cover portion adapted to cooperate with said 'bodyportion to form a leakproof seal therewith, said body portion comprisingload supporting end panels, load supporting side panels and a bottomsecured together to form a box, a coating of hardened magnesiumoxychloride cement over the outer surface of said box and adhered tosaid panels and to said bottom and a coating of waterproofing materialover the exterior of said hardened cement, said load supporting panelshaving a solid brous panel base coated with a normally solid bituminousmaterial and having superimposed on said coating and integral therewithat least one layer of tarred paper, said solid brous panel lbase havinga plurality of vertically aligned Wood panel elements secured together,said panel elements having a height substantially equal to the height ofsaid panels, said magnesium cement being adhesively bonded to saidtarred paper.

2. A water-resistant burial vault having a boxlike body portion and acover portion adapted to cooperate with said body portion, said bodyportion comprising load supporting end panels, load supporting sidepanels and a bottom secured together to form a box, a coating ofhardened magnesium oxychloride cement over the outer surface of said boxand adhered to said panels and to said bottom and a coating ofWaterproofing material over the exterior of said hardened cement, saidload supporting panels having a solid fibrous panel base coated with anormally solid bituminous material and having over said coating andadhering thereto at least one layer of lbitumen-impregnated brousmaterial, said solid brous panel .base being a plurality of verticallyaligned wood panel elements with tongue and groove sides securedtogether, said panel elements having a height substantially equal to theheight of said panels.

3. A water-resistant burial vault having a ,boxlike body portion and acover portion adapted to cooperate with said body portion to form aleak-proof seal therewith, said body portion comprising load supportingend panels, load supporting side panels and a bottom secured together toform a box with joints between said panels and said bottom and sealedwith thermoplastic Waterproong material, a coating of hardened cementover the outer surface of said box and adhesively :bonded through saidthermoplastic Waterproong material to said panels and to said bottom anda coating of Waterproong material over the exterior of said hardenedcement, said load supporting panels having a waterproofed solid brouspanel vbase coated with a normally solid waterproofing material andhaving superimposed on said coating and integral therewith at least onelayer of sheet waterproong material, said solid brous panel base havinga plurality of vertically aligned wood panel elements secured together,said panel elements having a height substantially equal to the height ofsaid panels and having tapered upper edges.

4. A Water-resistant burial vault having a boxlike :body portion and acooperative cover portion adapted to cooperate with said body portion toform a seal therewith, said .body portion comprising load supporting endpanels, load supporting side panels and a Ibottom secured together toform a box, a layer of hardened plastic magnesium oxychloride cementover the outer surface of said box adhering to said panels and to saidbottom, said panels having a plurality of brous load supporting elementsfastened together and coated on at least one side with thermoplasticWaterproong material and being bonded to said cement through saidwaterproofing material.

MAX SKOLNIK.

